| June,
2005. Some may wonder about the name “Easy
Growin’ Farm.” I myself am beginning to reconsider
the moniker because at this point it seems to be anything but
easy. Initially, I came up with this phrase as a result of observing
the wondrous activities that abound in my garden over the course
of a season. When one really thinks about the natural processes
taking place from seed to harvest, it is nothing short of a
miracle. And from this perspective, the farmers’ contribution
is relatively simple. A little planting, watering, weeding,
fertilizing, and occasionally fighting off insects and disease
is about the gist of it. I now realize that these few tasks
can consume the better part of a day and leave one completely
spent. However I am just beginning to get a taste of these
kinds of days. It seems I have only been able to manage one
or two days a week for full-time farming as my schedule has
been incredibly hectic with the various side jobs I have taken
to obtain the financial resources needed to keep the farm
running. I have managed to avoid accumulating debt in order
to start this farm, but the tradeoff is the amount of time
I am pulled away for other work. This has been a bit frustrating,
but is necessary if “Easy Growin’” is going
to evolve to the point that it can offer me a fulltime job.
Looking at my day planner I realize that the first farmers
market is a week away, and it is a bit daunting to think about
all that needs to be accomplished in that short span of time.
I have taken on the responsibility of being the market manager,
as the previous manager has found it more profitable to peddle
his crafts on eBay and passed along the position to anyone
willing to step in. I’m not sure I was willing, but
it seemed that if there was going to be a market at all, I
had to do it. People weren’t exactly standing in line
to fill the role. So I have been spending time down at town
hall trying to make sense of the various rules and regulations
involved with using town space for selling goods. Right now
the market will be small, with only myself offering produce
and bread along with another lady offering farm-fresh eggs.
Guess that is still better than the hot-dog vendor and painter
who made up last year’s “farmers” market.
Between my off-farm jobs and barn chores I have managed to
find time to break out the tiller and plant peas, onions and
asparagus. I only tilled to establish new garden beds. A cultivating
tool was used to gently work one inch of manure about two
inches into the soil of the remaining beds.
All of the vegetable and flower starts indoors and in the
cold frames are ready to be transplanted. I believe I have
three days “off,” which will allow me to get this
accomplished as well as plant the rest of the seeds that have
been patiently waiting to find a home in the freshly tilled,
manure-enriched garden beds. It will be great to finally get
these seeds planted, as this should have been done two to
four weeks ago. Luckily I am not competing to be the farmer
with the earliest produce to offer, because I’m pretty
sure I would come in dead last.
Despite the challenges of feeling like I am way behind schedule
and being frustrated about too much time away from the farm,
this experience is proving to be a positive one overall. I
am learning tons about the patience required and the sacrifices
one must make to enjoy farming. I am also constantly reminded
that if you can not laugh at your mistakes, it is going to
be a long haul. So I will sit back tonight and chuckle over
the fact that today I turned my cold frame into an oven and
nearly baked my little starts by forgetting to open the light
(lid) during the hottest part of the day. I will smile as
I think back to my lack of foresight as I set out some starts
to harden them off, only to come back an hour later and realize
that I had laid out a living salad bar for a couple of hungry
hens. 
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